Semiconductor Circuit Layout (Mask Work) Consultation

Greeting

The purpose of the registration for establishment of a circuit layout right based on “The Act Concerning the Circuit Layout of Semiconductor Integrated Circuit” is to promote the stability of the circuit layout trading by protecting the right of the creator of the circuit layout (including circuitry elements and lead wires) as a Circuit Layout Right from illegal copies and thereby to contribute to the sound development of the national industry and economy.

After the registration for establishment, a circuit layout right is created. The holder of a circuit layout right shall have the exclusive right to use the circuit layout for which registration for establishment is obtained for business purposes such as manufacturing and assignment.

The registration for establishment of a circuit layout right started in 1986, and the following chart shows the statistics on the number of application since 1986 through 2006. (as of the year-end 2006)

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Total

Application

432

427

462

321

283

358

233

139

119

94

58

92

9,070

Rejection

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Withdrawal

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

Transfer

30

0

7

1

0

0

258

0

1

0

0

0

315

Inspection

23

31

15

8

0

12

7

0

2

0

21

1

468

Copy

1

5

5

3

1

1

0

0

2

11

4

0

94

The following chart shows the number of application on country-by-country basis. (as of the year-end 2006)

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Total

Japan

389

371

427

288

261

336

231

136

119

94

55

92

8,233

U.S.A.

27

43

30

22

19

21

0

0

0

0

0

0

634

Netherlands

14

12

5

3

3

1

2

2

0

0

0

0

107

Germany

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

48

U.K.

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

16

Sweden

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

9

France

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

9

Korea

0

0

0

8

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

10

Australia

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Switzerland

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

Finland

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

Total

432

427

462

321

283

358

233

139

119

94

58

92

9,070

Our legal department and patent technical staff will introduce you to the system of registration for establishment of a circuit layout right. "HARAKENZO more" hope this could be some help for your further understanding of this system.